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I knock on the front door. Inside there’s shouting. Hunter’s voice can easily be heard, but there’s another similarly male voice whose temper is rising exponentially. I share a glance with Preston, and he shrugs. I knock again.
The door swings open, and a man wholookslike Hunter but clearly isn’t appears. He glares down at us, then shouts, “Must be for you.”
He storms out into the cold, starting down the long and winding driveway. He disappears beyond the tree line, and I turn around once more.
Hunter stands in the doorway, staring after the other man. “Sorry about my brother. He’s not usually like this. Daniel is… well, he’s in a mood.”
I nod, completely understanding. “Preston is ready to work, and I’m ready to head to my car. Thank you for the fire yesterday. It was so peaceful.”
“No fire today. You’re staying with us,” he blurts, then coughs. “I mean, I was planning on making skewers for lunch, and I know Preston would love to show off some of his work. Have a seat. We can bring it to you.”
I look down at my kid, who beams up at me and nods.“Uh, so I’d be in your house the whole time?”
Hunter shrugs. “Make yourself at home. We shouldn’t be too long.”
In the end, I relent. I tell myself it’s only because of the wide, doe-eyed look my son gives me, but deep down, I want it too.
Hunter leaves, an eager Preston trailing off behind him.Seeing him so happy with another adult is an odd but welcoming sight. I can almost see their bond as if it were a physical thing. I hope Hunter doesn’t break his poor little heart. Preston can’t take much more disappointment.
I take some time to look around. Though the outside of the cabin is lovely and the interior is neat, it looks somewhat bland. Everything looks solely purposeful, with not a single decorative item in sight.This is a dude’s house if I’ve ever seen one.The TV is massive. The couch is leather. The beautiful, handmade wooden shelf is empty.
It seems like such a shame. The longer I sit, the more I notice. Without giving it another thought, I’m on my feet. I slip out the front door and pluck a patch of green flowers surviving in the snow. I open the cupboard, fill a beer stein with water, and put them inside. I take a blanket wadded on the ottoman and drape it across the couch for good measure.
“Looks better already,” I say to myself.
When I pop into the shop to check on Preston, I find that he and Hunter are hard at work. Hunter tells me they’re putting a few final touches on the project, so I make my way back inside.
I poke around in the cabinet, and by some miracle, I find enough ingredients to make some simple sugar cookies, Preston’s favorite. I use a serving spoon and an old metal bowl. It doesn’t take long to beat everything together and form them into balls. Before I know it, they’re ready to pop into the oven.
While they cook, I make my way over to his bookcases and run my finger along the spines. I recognize some titles, but many of them are a complete mystery.
“So are you my brother’s fling, then? ‘Bout time he got one,” a voice says from behind me.
I jump. Daniel stands in the doorway, banging his boots off and slipping them off his feet. He’s leaner than Hunter but has a similar face and stance.
“No,” I say honestly, albeit a bit forcefully. “He’s teaching my son some things.”
“Are those cookies?” He raises an eyebrow toward the oven. “Hunter never bakes.”
“Really? He had all the ingredients.”
Daniel shrugs, walking into the kitchen area and sitting on one of the stools. “Beats me. I’m Danny, by the way.”
“Everly,” I say with a small smile. I move to the kitchen and start mixing up a batch of icing. “So… you’re Hunter’s brother.”
He smirks. “And you’renothis girlfriend.”
Instead of answering, I add another cup of sugar to the bowl. I can’t find food coloring in any of the cupboards, so the icing stays an off-white tone.
“And you’ve got a son, eh? Where’s the father?” The charm in the Richards family did not get evenly distributed.
“Excuse me? I’m a single parent if you must know.”
“That’s too bad.” Danny cracks his knuckles. “Kids need both parents, is all. Lucky he’s got you, though.”
From how he says it, I assume Hunter and Danny are in the same situation as Preston, with only one parent. However, I don’t pry. If Hunter wants me to know, he can tell me himself.
“Where were you yesterday when I came? Preston didn’t mention you.”
